The Cardboard Brains
The Cardboard Brains were a Toronto Punk Rock band from the first wave of punk and New Wave in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Formed in 1977 the line-up included John Paul Young (vocals) and Vince Carlucci (guitar) and various bassists and drummers. Originally the band went through different names including "Media Accident" and "Psychiatric Prison" before settling on the Cardboard Brains.
Shortly after forming, the band recorded a four song EP which received local airplay with songs including: "I Wanna Be A Yank" and a cover version of the Monkees hit "Stepping Stone". They band next appeared at the The Last Pogo concert film documentary and soundtrack playing two songs. This version of the band was a typically loud, fast three chord punk band of the era. In 1979 they recorded another four song EP "The Black EP" which was in a more New Wave direction adding keyboards. After 1981 they were billed as "John Paul Young and The Cardboard Brains" with a sound that was keyboard focused with little in common with their earlier work except for a limited edition live album in 1982 which was originally recorded as part of a live-to-air simulcast for radio station CFNY. Young was nominated for the "Most Promising Male Vocalist" at the CASBY Awards in 1982 but would effectively quit the music business shortly afterwards. John Paul Young went into film and voice-over work but has since gone into seclusion. Patrick Gregory (who played bass in 1978-78) went on to become a member of prominent local independent bands "The Woods Are Full Of Cuckoos" and "The Lawn.". Vincent Carlucci would form "Station Twang" and he appears in the documentary "The Last Pogo Jumps Again".
Discography
- 1977 Cardboard Brains, 7" "WHITE" EP (Brainco Worldwide)
- 1979 Cardboard Brains,"The Last Pogo" Compilation. LP (Bomb Records), Reissued 2001 by EMI
- 1980 Cardboard Brains, 12" "BLACK" EP (Guilt Records
- 1981 John Paul Young, single "Our Time Escapes/Fire Incensed As In Rage" (Canadian Media Development Company)
- 1981 John Paul Young, "The Life of Ermie Scub" LP (CMDC)
- 1982 John Paul Young and Cardboard Brains "Live at the Edge" LP (CMDC)
- 1986 John Paul Young "World within a Dream" single (MEG Entertainment)
- 1989 Cardboard Brains "Number 26" BOOTLEG. LP (Killed By Death)
- 1998 John Paul Young "John Paul Young and Cardboard Brains" compilation CD (MEG)
References
- Worth, Liz. Treat Me Like Dirt Bongo Beat, 2010
- Sutherland, Sam. Perfect Youth, The Birth Of Canadian Punk ECW Press, 2012
- B.George & Martha DeFoe. International Discography Of The New Wave 1982-1983 edition Omnibus Press, 1983